Fighting New Hampshire's drug crisis, the Manchester community came together Saturday to rally for recovery at Veterans Park.

A local nonprofit group created the event, which provides resources to those battling addiction.

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An organization called Hope for New Hampshire Recovery held the event with aims of helping to break down the walls of recovery.

Through stories, music and conversation, recovery specialists from around the state came together in Manchester to help those who are suffering from addiction.

"If you are family that has someone affected by addiction and you want to learn about what you can do to help them, this is a great place to come," said Holly Cekala, with Hope for New Hampshire Recovery.

Hope for New Hampshire Recovery hosts the event yearly to help make recovery possible.

"There will be providers throughout the state, people in recovery, mutual aid groups here, vendors, music and some great stories," Cekala said.

Cekala is in charge of programming at the center which opened up in 2015. She's also in recovery and takes pride in helping others.

"We really do just dig in and help people, guide them through and support them through a tough time," Cekala said.

And the organization is growing, now there are centers in Manchester, Concord, Derry, Claremont, Newport and Berlin.

"People know that hope is a resource, they know the name, they know the brand and they know they can go there and look for answers," said Cheryl Coletti Lawson, CEO of Hope. "We are so happy that we have been able to develop that for the community and the state."

While the event helps to make the connection to recovery services, it's also a time for people to celebrate being in recovery.

"I bought in to a Life of Recovery and I found a life beyond my wildest dreams," said R.J. Veid, a public speaker.

Veid travels all across the country sharing his story and inspiring others to be survivors.

"I speak to thousands of people and pretty much spread the message of hope and talk about the stigma of what an addict is. They are human beings, they have compassion and heart; they just don't know it yet."

And now, Rodney Lavoie is joining him on that mission to spread a message of hope. He lost his sister to a drug addiction in 2011.

"If I can help one family out there to not go through what my family went through," Lavoie said, "then it's a blessing."